Religion of Saturday, 27 December 2014

Source: GNA

Give thanks to God always – Catholic father to Ghanaians

Reverend Father Fidelis Ansogteli of the St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Wa has urged Christians to be happy and to give thanks to God always but not just on festive occasions alone.

Rev Father Ansogteli also urged Christians to adopt practices that would make the joy and happiness of Christmas day stay forever.

Rev Ansogteli’s message to mark the Christmas came from the book of St. John which was themed God’s blessings to man, spoke of the word of God as the light that overcomes all darkness and can never be overshadowed.

“God spoke through prophets, disciples and his people until he decided to do that through his only begotten son who has brought about the celebration of Christmas,” he said.

He said Christians should avoid the habit of going to church only on festive occasions but rather seek the face of the Lord at all times.

Pastor Joseph Yaw Ntiamoah, the Wa District Minister of the Church of Pentecost, called on Ghanaians not to be afraid to talk about the word of the Lord and urged Christians to take Jesus as their guide, friend, gift and their lord.

Pastor Joseph said the youth should work hard to be future leaders, distance themselves from bad behaviours and take their lord as their Lord and saviour.

The youth should also accept Jesus and live by his teachings and desist from the current money rituals in the municipalities.

He said ‘money is earned and not found’ and encourage the youth to work hard to earn money and be able to use it wisely.

Pastor Joseph said the youth should always remember that the lord Jesus Christ was a youth before his prophetic day came to him and urged them to refrain from immoral acts such as fornication, stealing and acts of quick access to money but keep faith in their lord.

Pastor Joseph Ntiamoah also urged parents to teach their wards good teachings of the lord and draw them closer to themselves in order to protect them from bad peer influence and other social vices.

He asked parents to invest in their wards’ education to make them responsible people in the future, while urging children to take their learning seriously.

He appealed to teachers to teach students good moral lesson and instill discipline in them for the betterment of society, because Jesus too was thought before his prophetic days came.

He also prayed for the government and the entire nation and asked the government to work hard and block all loop holes and keep faith to its promise to make the lives of Ghanaians meaningful and better.

Rev. Father Charles Kusaah, the Wa District Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana said Jesus was born to the world and not to a particular family, tribe or country, hence, the reason for the celebration of his birthday across the world.

Rev. Kusaah who is also the Head Pastor of the Epiphany Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana appealed to Christians to constantly seek the way of the lord in everything they did and refrain from acts that will mar their intimate relationship with God.

He urged the congregation to remember to put smiles in the life of many by sharing what they have, especially with the poor and vulnerable in society, so that they may experience the love of God on this great occasion.

The Church after the sermon presented members with Christmas hampers in appreciation of their commitment to the growth of the Church and to God’s word.